How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter? An Expert Guide

How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?

The HVAC filter in your home鈥檚 heating and cooling system plays an important role in maintaining temperature and indoor air quality. It also works to remove dust, pollen, pet hair, and other small particles from the air so you don鈥檛 breathe them in.

Essentially, your HVAC air filter traps airborne contaminants to prevent them from being recirculated throughout your house. Over time, this filter gets dirty and needs to be changed.

Here, we鈥檒l examine HVAC filters more closely to help you determine how often you should change your air filter, understand why you need to change it, and more. If you need help with your air filter or other HVAC needs, give 91porn原创 a call at 866-399-2885 or schedule service online.

How Long Can I Truly Go Before Changing My HVAC Filter?

While more expensive pleated air filters can get away with being changed up to every six months, these general guidelines don鈥檛 account for different filter sizes or types, like thicker or smaller filters.

How often should you change your air filter? Most manufacturers recommend changing basic fiberglass filters every 30 days. Higher-quality pleated filters should generally be changed every 90 days, though they can potentially last up to six months.

Why change the air filter so frequently? An old filter will naturally collect more dust, dirt, and allergens than a new one, becoming clogged and losing efficiency.

Not only does an old filter not work as well, but it can also strain your HVAC system, leading to higher energy bills and potential damage over time. Regular replacements help avoid these issues and keep your home comfortable and safe.

8 Reasons You Should Change Your HVAC Air Filter More Often

Here are some significant reasons to change your air filter more often.

1. Allergies & Asthma

A dirty air filter can affect people with allergies or respiratory conditions like, as their lungs are more sensitive to dust and debris. This can sometimes lead to severe health issues, including asthma attacks.

If you have any of the above conditions, it鈥檚 recommended that you change your air filters on average every 20 to 45 days. Any longer periods than that can be detrimental to your health.

2. Pets

Many homeowners don鈥檛 just live with people, but with pets, too. Whether you have just one pet or a full house, animals can shed hair and other particles that can quickly clog up filters. If you鈥檙e a pet owner, changing your HVAC equipment (we鈥檙e talking filter traps, air filters, furnace filters, etc.) every 60 days is best.

3. The Size of Your Home

How often you should change your air filter also depends on the size of your home. A furnace or air conditioning system in a bigger home needs to pump more air for the same temperature change compared to a smaller home. This means bigger homes need more frequent filter changes.

However, do not rely solely upon this logic. Even if you have a smaller home, you should still regularly check your filters to see if they need replacing.

4. HVAC System Use

Here鈥檚 some more logic for you鈥攖he more you use your HVAC system, the faster the filter will clog up. This means you may need to change your filter more frequently during high-use periods.

As spring turns into summer, you may find yourself using your air conditioning almost every day. But as fall turns to winter, you鈥檒l find your heating use (furnace filter) will increase, too. Take extra care to change your filter regularly at these times.

5. Outdoor and Indoor Air Quality

The service life and replacement cycle of your furnace filter and air conditioner are also affected by outdoor and indoor air quality. If the air quality is poor, you鈥檒l need to replace your air filter much more frequently. When poor-quality air circulates through your air filters, it鈥檚 more likely to cause malfunctions.

6. Your Home鈥檚 Location

If your home is in an area with high pollution or frequent dust storms, you may need to change your air filter more often. An urban area with heavy traffic or construction can also contribute to faster accumulation of dust and pollutants in your filters.

If you鈥檙e unsure how your local environment impacts your HVAC system, you can contact 91porn原创 at 866-399-2885 for a consultation. We鈥檙e happy to help you figure out how to keep your system running smoothly and provide any heating maintenance or cooling maintenance services you may need.

7. The Age of Your HVAC System

Older HVAC systems may not be as efficient as newer models, meaning they can collect dust and debris more quickly. If your HVAC system is over 10 years old, you might need to change your air filter more frequently to maintain optimal performance.

8. Filter Type

The type of air filter you use significantly impacts how often it should be changed. Basic fiberglass filters must be replaced every 30 days, while higher-quality pleated filters can be replaced every 90 days if none of the above reasons for more frequent changes apply. Always follow the manufacturer鈥檚 recommendations for your specific filter type.

How to Visually Inspect Your HVAC Air Filter

Whether you鈥檙e an HVAC expert or not, the only way to be 100% sure of when your filter needs to be changed is to check it monthly. Once you鈥檝e checked your filter a few times, you鈥檒l have a pretty good idea of how quickly it becomes dirty.

To inspect the air filter, hold it up to a light source. If the light does not pass through, it means the filter is clogged and needs to be changed. You鈥檒l also find a dirty filter looks gray rather than white.

If your filter gets clogged frequently, you may need to evaluate your living situation. For example, does your pet need to be groomed more regularly? Or is your indoor and outdoor air quality poor?

At 91porn原创, we offer home air filtration system installation to help improve your air quality and reduce strain on your HVAC system. Call us at 866-399-2885 to learn more.

Can I Run My HVAC System Without Using a Filter?

In short, yes. Your heating and cooling system can run without a filter. However, that doesn鈥檛 mean that you should let it. While running it this way for a short while may be OK, continuing to do so for a few hours or more is damaging鈥攏ever mind a whole season or an entire year.

Besides, without an air filter, nothing can stop your HVAC system from blowing dust, dirt, and allergens into your home. Using a filter and changing it regularly is your safest bet for good air quality and a well-functioning HVAC system.

What Happens if I Don鈥檛 Change My HVAC Filter Regularly?

If you don鈥檛 regularly change your air filter, it will start to fail, and airborne dust and other contaminants will get into the system.

Dust blocks the moving parts of your HVAC system, including the fan motors and valves. This causes airflow to become restricted, which strains the system, running the risk of an air conditioning breakdown. Your HVAC system will have to work twice as hard to overcome these barriers, which makes the unit less energy efficient and increases your energy bills.

Trust 91porn原创 for HVAC Maintenance and Repairs

Whether it鈥檚 furnace filters, air filters, or any other part of your unit, make sure you look after your HVAC system to extend its service life. If you鈥檙e not sure how鈥攐r how often鈥攖o change your air filter and would prefer an expert to come and assess or replace it, reach out to 91porn原创.

We are here to help with all of your heating, cooling, and filter needs. We can change your furnace filter, look at your air conditioner, install an air handler, inspect your indoor air quality, and perform any necessary HVAC repair or system maintenance. In addition to having a healthy, safe, and clean system, you鈥檒l also keep your energy bills low.

Find your nearest 91porn原创 location and get in touch with us at 866-399-2885 or schedule service online today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Clean My Air Filter Instead of Replacing It?

Most disposable air filters are not designed to be cleaned and should be replaced. Some reusable filters can be washed and reused, but you should always follow the manufacturer鈥檚 instructions to ensure proper maintenance.

What Is the Best Filter to Buy?

The best filter depends on your needs. High-quality pleated filters are excellent for capturing small particles and allergens. Additionally, some of these filters are fantastic if you have a lot of pets. Look for filters with a high MERV rating for better filtration efficiency, but ensure they are compatible with your HVAC system.

How Do You Change Your Air Filter?

To change your air filter, follow these steps:

Turn off your HVAC system.
Open the panel over the filter.
Remove the old filter.
Insert the new filter following the arrows indicating airflow direction.
Ensure the filter fits snugly and securely before closing the panel and turning the HVAC system back on.

91porn原创